Paramount-CNN merger sparks fears over David Ellison’s alleged ‘sweeping changes’ favoring Trump
This should worry you. This is what will happen at @CNN with the Paramount Warner bros Merger. #blockthemerger https://t.co/CJ0Eg4WoXu
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) May 27, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: More than 200 journalists, filmmakers and academics have signed a letter warning that Paramount Skydance’s proposed merger with Warner Bros Discovery could steer CNN in a direction more favorable to President Donald Trump.
Critics pointed to Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison’s ties to the administration and alleged CBS has already undergone “sweeping changes” designed to “appease” the president.
The warning, led by the Freedom of the Press Foundation and first reported by Status, escalates fears that one of Hollywood’s biggest media mergers could carry major political consequences for CNN.
The group urged regulators and lawmakers to scrutinize the deal as concerns grow over what they described as “improper political meddling.”
Critics fear pro-Trump shift at CNN
The proposed $110 billion merger would bring CNN and CBS under the same corporate umbrella while combining HBO Max and Paramount+ into a media giant that could reshape the entertainment and news industries.
But the letter argues the impact could stretch far beyond streaming and Hollywood consolidation. Citing a Wall Street Journal report, the signatories highlighted claims that Ellison had promised Trump “sweeping changes” at CNN if regulators approve the merger.
The letter said Ellison “already made such sweeping changes to appease Trump” at CBS News after Skydance merged with Paramount last year. It specifically pointed to the appointment of “Trump-aligned columnist” Bari Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief.
The signatories also accused CBS of softening its coverage of the administration. “News segments critical of Trump policies have been pulled; revered producers and reporters have quit rather than be censored,” the letter stated.
It also claimed that “shows Trump dislikes, like ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,’ have been cancelled,” while “CBS Evening News has taken to airing flattering features on Trump officials, like one calling Secretary of State Marco Rubio the ‘ultimate Florida man’.”
The letter added, “With this track record, Ellison will likely alter CNN’s editorial direction (not to mention meddle with HBO’s documentaries) to be more friendly to the administration, threatening press freedom.”
David Ellison rejects fears of pro-Trump CNN
The Freedom of the Press Foundation further argued that regulators should view the merger as a “political arrangement to circumvent constitutional safeguards, with severe consequences for American democracy.”
Among the prominent figures who signed the letter were former CNN anchor Jim Acosta, former ABC and CBS News correspondent Judy Muller, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras.
The criticism also comes amid renewed attention on Ellison’s relationship with Trump. The report noted that Ellison, the son of Trump ally Larry Ellison, reportedly “honored” the president at an “intimate” dinner last month.
Despite the backlash, Ellison has publicly rejected suggestions that CNN’s editorial direction would shift under the merger.
“Editorial independence will actually be maintained,” he told CNBC in March. “It’s maintained at CBS, it’ll be maintained at CNN.”
Still, critics behind the letter warned that the merger could fundamentally reshape CNN’s political posture during Trump’s presidency, turning what was billed as a blockbuster entertainment deal into a growing fight over media independence and press freedom.
